Renegade

Make
Jeep
Segment
SUV

With the world quickly turning to electrification as a means of meeting harsher emissions and fuel consumption legislation, it should come as no surprise that even the likes of Jeep have had to turn to hybridization with its latest pair of products: plug-in hybrid versions of its smallest products dubbed the Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe. But now, a report from Spain's Periodismo del Motor suggests that Jeep has a new model on the horizon, an all-electric crossover that will be smaller than the Jeep Renegade.

With information allegedly sourced from a presentation by European executives from the manufacturer, the publication also claims that the new model will be built in Italy.

The plant in question is Jeep's Melfi production facility, which currently produces 450,000 units of the Renegade and Compass per annum. This is the same plant that will be producing the plug-in hybrid Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe, so it stands to reason that the tooling will also be applicable for a full EV.

While previous reports suggested that the EV in question might be a fully electric version of the Renegade, the new report claims it will be an all-new model. After finally merging with Groupe PSA to create a new automotive conglomerate called Stellantis, the new Jeep EV will share a BEV platform with several PSA products. We believe that the platform in question will be that of the new Opel Mokka, which debuted a few months ago in its second generation, now as a fully electric crossover.

The previous-generation Mokka was rebadged as the Buick Encore, so in a cruel twist of fate, General Motors selling off Opel to PSA might have backfired, with Jeep beating Buick to the punch with an EV competitor in the segment.

If the E-Jeep is to share underpinnings with the Opel Mokka, expect a 136-horsepower, 192 lb-ft electric powertrain driving the front wheels. The 50 kWh battery pack enables a range of up to 200 miles on the WLTP cycle, and the use of a 100 kW DC fast-charger will enable up to 80% charge to be recuperated in just 30 minutes.

Jeep is planning on electrifying its full lineup by 2022, so the new E-Jeep is likely to debut around then.